'I think he’d be a really good option to succeed O’Mahony'
Former Irish international Andrew Conway says that he sees Caelan Doris and James Ryan as top candidates to succeed Peter O’Mahony as Ireland’s captain, highlighting their potential leadership roles.
O’Mahony put in an uncharacteristically underwhelming performance in Ireland’s weekend shock 23-22 Six Nations defeat to England in Twickenham – receiving a yellow card – and at 34 year of age, it’s likely his stint as captain will be relatively short-lived. With this in mind, who is likely to succeed the Munster back row as skipper is a debate that is already taking place.
O’Mahony’s former teammate Conway believes Ireland have at least two outstanding candidates for the role and they’re both Leinster forwards.
“Ireland have some good candidates for when it comes to picking the captain after Peter O’Mahony, but I think Caelan Doris is a really good option,” Conway told NewBettingOffers.co.uk. “He’s that new breed of rugby player, similar to Tadhg Beirne, in the sense that he’s very calm and relaxed but gets to business when he’s on the pitch. He’s able to balance those sides of himself really well.
“He’s also very authentic,” said Conway. “He is able to be himself the whole time and not have to lean on a particular energy or really gee himself up to play. He’s just got that relaxed style. It doesn’t always work for players at the top level of performance, but for him it does.
“He’s been in the leadership group in camp for a couple of years now and I think he’d be a really good option to succeed O’Mahony. You’ve got to look at who is definitely going to be in the team when looking for a new captain.
“James Ryan has captained Ireland a number of times and although he hasn’t been starting this campaign, the value he adds to the Ireland team can’t be ignored. He’d also be a really good option. James Ryan is someone who is really important going forward, his age profile and experience level warrant his name to be involved in that conversation when the time comes.
“They’d be the two standouts for me. If you look at who Andy Farrell has selected his captains over the last while, that probably gives you a good inkling of who is in that conversation.”
Discussing underrated players, Conway praised ex-teammate Tadhg Beirne for consistently performing at a high level for Ireland, yet not receiving the recognition he deserves.
“One player who I don’t think gets the credit he deserves is Tadhg Beirne,” said Conway. “I just think he is absolutely incredible. Near enough every week he is one of Ireland’s top performers – and that is saying something.
“To be playing at that high of a level every week in terms of how he applies himself and how he has grown his game, he deserves so much credit. If you see him in his blue scrum cap going for a poach, he knows the nearest three guys in the opposition are going to go in there and try and kill him – and he’s still there every time!
“He’s a really good competitor and also a good friend of mine so maybe I’m a little biased but he’s the most chilled person you’ll ever see off the pitch. He’ll be playing on his phone in the changing room thirty minutes before kick off when the other lads are hyping themselves up! It’s when he gets on the pitch and throws his scrum cap on, he turns into a different man.
“I think Tadhg has proven himself to be a properly elite and world-class. He’s one of the best second rows in the world and that progression started over the last three or four years. He’s special.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments